Brake for trailers



April 18, 1939. R. HUNTER BRAKE FOR TRAILERS Filed Dec. 30, 1937 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE BRAKE FOR TRAILERS Application December 30, 1937, Serial No. 182,595

1 Claim.

This invention relates to trailer hitch construction, the primary object of the invention being to provide a tra-iler hitch embodying means for automatically operating the ybrake mechanism of the trailer, by the movement of the power device or towing mechanism, to the end that rearward movement oi the towing mechanism will cause the brakes of the trailer to be applied and forward movement of the towing mechanism will cause the brakes to be rel-eased, thereby insuring complete automatic control of the trailer.

With the foregoing and other objects in. view, which will appear as the description proceeds., the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed,

without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a trailer hitch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the upper movable bar of the hitch.

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the lower movable bar of the hitch.

Figure 6 is airagrnental plan view of the front end of the hitch.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the trailer hitch embodies bars 5 connected at their outer ends by means of the plate il, the opposite ends of the bars being connected by means of the transverse bar l, the inner ends of the bars -5 being secured under the trailer chassis in any desired manner.

As clearly shown by Figure 6 ci the drawing, the plate is, provided with openings for the reception of the bolts 8, which also pass through aligning elongated openings and i6 of the bars II and l2 respectively, thereby providing means whereby the bars i I and l2 may move longitudinally oi the bars 5. These bars il and l2 extend appreciable distances beyond the forward ends of the bars the bar I l being curved slightly upwardly as at i3. The bolt Ill connects the outer ends oi the bars II and I2, which bolt aiords means for connecting the curved bar i5 to the trailer hitch, the bar l5 providing means for connecting the trailer hitch to the usual bumper of the power device not shown.

(Cl. 18S-142) Secured to the upper Abar II, by means of the bolt I6, is an actuating bar I'I, that has its rear end pivotally connected to the bar I8 that is pivotally mounted on the transverse bar I9 that connects the side bars 5 at a point beyond the 5 transverse bar 1.

The reference character 20 designates a cable that has its forward end pivotally connected to the bar I8, as by means of the link 2I, the opposite end of the cable 2li being connected with the 10 braking mechanism of the trailer, so that when the bar I3 is moved, a. relative movement will be imparted to the cable 2G, to actuate the braking mechanism not shown.

Connected with the forward end of the trailer 15 hitch is a chain 22 that carries the wedge 23, the wedge 23 being of a size and shape to t within one of the elongated openings 9 of the bar II, to prevent movement of the bars Il and I2 with respect to the bars 5, with the result that 20 the actuating bar I'I will be also held against movement.

In the operation of the device, assuming that the power device or motor vehicle towing the trailer, moves rearwardly, it will be seen that the actuating bar I1 will be moved rearwardly, moving the bar I8 from the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 of the drawing, to the dotted line position. This movement results in the cable 2Q being drawn forwardly actuating the brake mechanism with which it is connected.

Upon reverse movement of the actuating bar I1, the cable 20 will be returned to its normal position as shown in full lines in Figure 1 of the drawing and the brake will be thrown out of operation.

I claim:

A trailer hitch adapted to be secured to trailers having braking mechanism, comprising a pair of main bars connected at their forward ends, a pair of short bars having elongated openings mounted at the forward ends of the bars, bolts extending through the elongated openings of the latter bars slidably connecting the short bars on the` main bars, a pivoted transversely extending bar mounted on the main bars near the inner ends thereof, an operating bar connected with one of the short bars and having pivoted connection with the pivoted transversely extending bar, whereby movement of the operating bar operates the transversely disposed bar, and a brake cable connected to one end of the transversely disposed bar, and adapted to move to operate the brakes of the trailer when the operating bar moves rearwardly.

RAY HUNTER. 

